Analysts told the South China Morning Post that the exercises will demonstrate Beijing’s preparedness for potential conflict on the Korean Peninsula. About 40,000 square kilometers have been cordoned off for the three-day drill.
"It’s more of a show of military might to [demonstrate] the recent PLA achievements," said Collin Koh of Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.
Chinese-based analyst Ni Lexiong remarked that the naval movements and battle simulations transmit "a very subtle message to North Korea." It’s also possible that ships from the Russian fleet will join the exercises, experts told SCMP, but Beijing has not disclosed these details.
The navy will seal off access to Qingdao, Shandong Province, and Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, starting Thursday morning. The region will re-open on Saturday evening.
Chinese navy issued a shipping ban from 8 am, July 27, to 6 pm, July 29, on large-scale military activities in regions of the Yellow Sea pic.twitter.com/ocro4bKkhO— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) July 26, 2017
The PLA’s 90th anniversary falls on August 1.
This story first appeared on Sputnik & is reposted here with permission.